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Climate Education Clubs

Learning by sharing knowledge and experiences within our communities and our education settings

About

Climate Education Clubs aim to develop links between schools and communities and assist in the co-design of projects related to climate action and sustainability. We invite you to learn more about each of these by clicking the links below to take you directly to their respective parts or by reading more below.

Climate Education Clubs - Primary Connections

SDGs and Me – Nurturing our World

The clubs co-created a workbook on the Sustainable Development Goals with school children and school teachers in Co. Sligo. SDGs and Me – Nurturing our World is available as a learning resource fostering environmental awareness and encouraging meaningful conversations around sustainability. The resource can be used in the community, school or home setting. You can view the full resource here to explore the subject in depth.

Biodiversity Exercises Game

The clubs also co-created a Biodiversity Exercise Game and Hunt with North Sligo Athletics Club. The resource aims to introduce biodiversity in a game format where children complete simple physical exercises as they learn nature facts. The game can include a biodiversity hunt to encourage children to explore their environment. The game can be played in the community, school or home setting. You can try the full Biodiversity Exercise Game and Hunt here and start exploring nature in a fun way.

Climate Education Clubs - Youth Connections

The Clubs worked with 16-22 year olds across a number of initiatives to explore avenues to engage in the Climate Conversation. These initiatives included a pilot Sligo Youth Assembly on Climate Action in collaboration with Sligo County Council, school and community-based projects exploring Water Conservation, Soil Science, Energy, Nature Connection, and Orchard Planting, and the development of the Climate Action Board Game – Re-imagining Sligo.

Climate Action Board Game - Re-imagining Sligo

The Climate Action Board Game – Re-imagining Sligo was designed and developed by Keelan Harte, ATU student. The game was piloted with 16 year olds to capture feedback and key learnings for improvement. The overall aim of the game is to work through climate related scenarios and work as a team to save Sligo. The game can be played in the community, school or home setting.

Please access the resource here to bring climate learning into your setting.

Climate Education Clubs - Community Connections

The clubs facilitated engagement between ATU staff and students and community groups to work together on community-based and community-related projects. A number of exemplar projects were completed by students including:

Sustainable Water Management

Carraroe and District Regeneration Association (CADRA) invited students to assist them in the design of a rainwater harvesting system and a group logo.

Students submitted concept designs in April 2024. An award sponsored by CADRA and LAWPRO was presented to the best concept design submitted.

Students from the MA in User Experience Design and Applied Innovation delivered at ATU Donegal submitted the winning design.

Sustainable Tourism with Tourism and Event Management Students

The Tourism and Event Management students at ATU Sligo conducted research on Heritage Tourism Development through Community Participation in Sligo.

The students sought assistance from Sligo PPN community groups to provide insights on this topic through completion of short survey.

Students presented a report of their findings to members of the Sligo PPN Secratariat in April 2024 titled Community Participation for Heritage Tourism Development in Sligo.

Image: Tourism and Event Management students from ATU Sligo with lecturer Dr. Domhnall Melly attending the Fair Seas Event on 14th March 2024 to engage with and listen to concerns of community groups.

Sligo Fair Seas 2024

Connecting with Nature with Occupational Safety and Health Students

The Nature Connections Digital Map is an interactive map, developed in collaboration with Sligo Sports Recreation Partnership and Havin’ A Laugh Charity.

Final year ATU students of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Health Safety programme created a video to highlight a a space for connecting with nature.

The video showcases Harbour Park amenity in Finisklin, Sligo Town. This park is an example of a successful remediation project by Sligo County Council to transform a former landfill site into a community space.

This project is part of the Community Climate Action Programme Strand 2 and is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.